Which describes granite and basalt?

A.

Granite is a coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock, while basalt is a fine-grained extrusive igneous rock.

B.

Both granite and basalt are fine-grained intrusive igneous rocks.

C.

Granite is a coarse-grained extrusive igneous rock, while basalt is a fine-grained intrusive igneous rock.

D.

Granite is a fine-grained extrusive igneous rock, while basalt is a coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock.

Option (A)

Explanation:

Granite is an igneous rock in which the crystals are large enough to be seen with the naked eye and it is an intrusive type of rock. They are felsic in nature as they contain a high amount of silica. They are light-colored and are formed in the continental crust. This rock is formed when hot intruding magma gets crystallized under the earth's surface. They have a relatively low specific gravity.

Basalt is also an igneous rock in which the crystals are small enough to be observed and is an extrusive rock. They are mafic in nature due to their lesser amount of silica content. They are dark-colored and are commonly associated with the oceanic as well as continental crust. This rock is formed on the ocean floor and has a high specific gravity.

Thus, the correct answer is option (A).

B. Both granite and basalt are fine-grained intrusive igneous rocks.

Intrusive igneous rocks crystallize below Earth's surface, and the slow cooling that occurs there allows large crystals to form.